HICKORY, N.C. --- Tusculum University claimed a 4-1 victory over 41st-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University in South Atlantic Conference men's tennis Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers (6-9, 4-4 SAC) had a 3-0 lead in the match, but the Bears (9-4, 6-2 SAC) appeared poised to rally before freshman Isaac Wolff came away with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 win over Connor Donley at flight six singles in his first conference match of the season.

In doubles, the teams split 6-1 decisions at the top two flights, with Anton Krondell and Miles Ray beating Nevio Dux and Donley at flight two. At flight three, Nathan Matsuguma and Angelos Avgeris went to a tiebreaker before putting away Zachary Cox and Mattias Selde 7-6 (9-7) to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead in the match.

Kai Poelchau put the Pioneers up 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory at flight five over Raphael Champaud, and Miles Ray beat Vadym Rogynskyi 7-5, 6-0 at flight four to give Tusculum a 3-0 advantage. The Pioneers were up a set at each of the other four singles matches, but the Bears won the second set in each match to set up the finish.

Rufus Plane got the Bears on the board with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Krondell at flight two to cut the Tusculum lead to 3-1. With the Bears up 5-4 at each of the other two remaining matches, Wolff came through with the three-set win to clinch the first win against a ranked opponent this season for the Pioneers after six losses.

Tusculum will visit Mars Hill on Wednesday, April 2 beginning at 1 p.m. The Lions are 2-11 overall and 1-7 in conference following a loss to Catawba on Saturday.